September 2009 Archives

Do Not Pass Go; Do Not Collect $200 Dollars

on September 30, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

I need some help. I'm 28 years old and I'm having a very hard time figuring out what kind of career I would like to get into. I feel at my job now that it's just a meaningless job that I just go for a paycheck. I want to find a career that I would be happy doing and taking with me in the future. I need your guidance.

Thank you,

Kimberly

Dear Kimberly,

My sense of you, Kimberly, is that you are driven by doing the right things for the right reasons, and that living up to your perception of your family's expectations of you is a key part of your current career confusion. To help you find some direction, let's look at your main life lessons in comparison to your life choices:

You have a lot of creativity in your energy and you also have a sincere desire to help others, to make a difference. You like people and are a good communicator, but structure and routine are not your strong suits. This is in sharp contrast to the rest of your family. They thrive on routine and goals, and punctuality is a priority. You struggle to make it to work on time almost everyday, and your goals seem more lodged in shifting sand than set in stone.

Yet, even though you are totally different than your siblings and parents, you have chosen a job in which they would feel comfortable. Is it any wonder that you feel like what you are doing is meaningless and merely a paycheck? That you would feel lost?

The first step, then, is to realize that how you are feeling makes sense, but it is not an indictment of your character. Stop being so hard on yourself! The second step has to do with your life lesson of boundaries and trust - trusting yourself and your dreams, and creating boundaries with others. Saying "no" lovingly is still saying no, and you need to add this powerful word to your vocabulary!

Working with a non-profit organization, particularly with a medical charity focused on children, is in your energy. You would be a natural in a liaison-type position between the hospital and the community, in an educational or outreach capacity. You would also do well with an organization that promoted the well-being of animals, as you have a genuine energy that animals are attracted to.

While you continue receiving your paycheck at your current job - because you do not want to create financial difficulties on top of your job frustration! - start doing research and then pro-actively choose you. You can do it!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: Anytime you are in a situation work-wise where the job feeds your checkbook but does not likewise feed your soul, there will be a soul conflict. This is not necessarily a bad thing! Think of it another way: When the discomfort of staying is greater than the discomfort of leaving, you leave - and not before. If you are like Kimberly, there is only one thing to say! "Come on, discomfort!"

All kidding aside, being discontent is a flashing neon sign that something needs to change. Your soul will sense things aren't right far sooner than your conscious awareness, and it will inherently seek to resolve the conflict between your choices and who you are. Add to the mix that many souls choose families with very different energies than their own in order to facilitate a life lesson. This can be confusing! But it will always relate back to the soul agreements in the family - parent to child, or sibling to sibling - to learn and to grow.

I am reminded of Tom Hanks' first Oscar acceptance speech in 1988 for his role in the film, "Philadelphia." Overwhelmed with emotion, he humbly accepted his award for Best Actor, then held the coveted gold statue up and quipped that perhaps now his father would believe he didn't need a back-up career.

So, when faced with that uncomfortable feeling that you are not where you need to be or that you are not doing what you need to be doing, get excited your soul is trying to get your attention! Listen! Trust! And begin the journey of exploration that ultimately leads to self.

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

I'm Struggling To Come To Terms With My Sister's Death - Is She?

Nan O’Brien

on September 28, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Dear Nan,

My sister passed away after a short battle with cancer last year. For as long as I can remember she has had a terrible fear of death, even throughout her sickness. She was an incredibly strong woman and her cancer treatments never slowed her down. However, she was in a lot of pain the last couple months and finally accepted more pain medication to comfort her. Her health declined rapidly the last week of her life and the pain medication increased. Something that has worried me since her death is that she was so medicated in her final week that she did not have a chance to come to terms with her passing and make peace with it.

What are your thoughts on this?

Lynn

Dear Lynn,

First, I am sorry to hear of your sister's passing. As I have written before, cancer is an insidious disease which can rob our loved ones of so much: Their independence, their stamina, their vitality.

That said, the one thing it cannot do is rob a soul of its decision when to pass. Death by a disease such as cancer is the fulfillment of a soul contract, hard as that is for me to write. It does not mean your sister wanted to die (do not hear that in my words), it is that on a soul level, your sister knew her life was ending. She would not have left this physical earth if she had not been ready as a soul to do so. In other words, at some point prior to her passing, she had to have made her peace or she would not have been able to leave.

I can assure you that your sister is ok, I have never met a soul who wasn't. Life in our spiritual existence is so much easier! I can also assure you that your sister does not want you to feel worried or upset, either. She lived on her own terms; she passed on her own terms. A long, drawn-out illness that would have ultimately led to her passing was not an option for your sister! She would not have been a "patient patient." (She always was good with words!) Lastly, she also asked me to tell you that she "made it to Independence Day after all."

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: The timing of a loved one's death is all too often a source of pain for those left behind. Guilt, worry, anxiety over how the loved one felt about death is an emotional and energetic burden that many of us carry all too willingly because we don't know what else to do.

To put it simply, souls who have passed do not want those of us left behind to be upset about the mechanism of death! If the soul has died as a result of a soul contract - old age, disease - then the soul already has dealt with the timing of the death before entering this physical world, even if on a conscious or sub-conscious level there is no knowledge or awareness. Even if the soul passes through the free will/free choice of another, God does step in to insure that the soul does not suffer, regardless of what it appears the physical body may have endured.

If you, like Lynn, have lost a loved one and are worried about what that soul experienced, then please lay down your pain. It doesn't do any good to compound your loss with your guilt. Know that your loved one dwells in the safety, sanctity, and comfort of the love that is so abundant in Spirit. You will see him or her again; and the reunion shall be joyous.

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/26/09

Nan O’Brien

on September 27, 2009 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on the links below to listen to Nan's online podcast stream.

1st Hour 9pm - 10pm EDT 2nd Hour 10pm - 11pm EDT 3rd Hour 11pm - 12am EDT

Looking at Life: My Mother

Nan O’Brien

on September 26, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Nan and Mom 2.jpg

My Mother and I

My mother's second diagnosis of breast cancer, which she had beaten in 1980, had resurfaced eighteen years later during a routine x-ray. Having defeated the disease once before, we were all hopeful that my mother would be victorious over the disease yet again, and initially she responded well to treatment. For a long stretch of time, there was no evidence of the disease at all. But then, the insidious illness began robbing my mother of her vitality, her stamina, her independence - though never, ever, her dignity.

Valentine's Day 2002 my mother checked into the hospital. In the early evening after my father had wearily gone home, I took a long-stemmed red rose and a cheery helium balloon (along with a chocolate milkshake my mother had requested) and sat by her bedside for hours. In those precious Moments, my mother and I spoke candidly about life, death, and - more importantly - living. And even though the thoughts were serious, we still laughed and joked, managing to keep it generic and light, each of us unwilling (yet) to openly acknowledge that her journey was surely coming to an end.

Although she had been admitted ostensibly for a twenty-four hour visit, some new health crisis kept her bound to her fifth floor hospital room. Day after day, as she lay patiently and smiling in her bed, the helium balloon stayed aloft, and the crimson petals of the rose I had given her amazingly stayed in full bloom.

When I walked into my mother's hospital room after ten days, the first thing I noticed was that the helium balloon hung lower on the bedrail and several rose petals rested on the table by her side. Her breathing was labored; her spirit was noticeably quiet.

Throughout the day, my father, sister, and I took turns wiping her brow, touching her cheek, adjusting her pillows to make her as comfortable as we could. We each spoke softly to her, final thoughts of how much we loved her and how it was ok to let go. My sister and I both reassured my Mom we would watch out for our father on Earth knowing she would watch over him from Heaven, to help our Dad through the loss of his best friend and sweetheart of forty-eight years.

On Tuesday morning, February 26th, at 6:20 a.m., my father, sister, and I were silently by my mother's side. And as she peacefully took her final, shallow breath, the helium balloon lay still on the bedrail; and the last petal of the crimson rose floated slowly, gently, to the floor, as her Spirit surely rose up...

When a loved one dies, within our sorrow, our loss, it is important to remember that there is also an inherent gift in death - the awareness of how precious life is. It reminds us to not let one day go by without appreciating the opportunities that await us each morning when we awake. It compels us to reach out to those in need; to share our time and our resources to help those less fortunate. It gives us the courage to embrace our gifts and to live authentically, providing a perspective we may not have had before.

For those of you who are struggling with the loss of someone dear to you, be comforted in knowing that our loved ones in Spirit are oh so much closer than you think - for the distance between two hearts can be measured by the abundance of love found within those hearts; a very short distance, indeed.

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Am I In The Doghouse For Putting Down My Pet?

Nan O’Brien

on September 25, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dear Nan,

I had to put my dog Sheba down last week. She was eleven years old and seemed to be in pain. Did I do the right thing? Is she mad at me? Do dogs ever come back to visit like people do?

Thank you,

Barbara

Dear Barbara,

Sheba was your companion for more than twelve years, so it makes sense that you would have questions about how she felt about being put down. I can assure you that Sheba is not mad at you. Like people, animals who pass into Spirit do not have anger toward those of us still in physical form.

I can also tell you that there is a great appreciation for your unselfishly letting Sheba cross over. As you correctly assessed, she was in great pain and your choosing to end her suffering was done lovingly and respectfully. She knew you were there and she felt safe knowing you were with her at the end.

Yes! Animals do come to "visit" in Spirit! Sheba feels quite active in your home, particularly in the evening time when you are preparing for bed. You feel her so strongly, you almost forget she has crossed over. To affirm this for you, no you are not "losing it" (your phrase) when you feel she is still galloping around the dining room table.

When you get a sense of her, do speak out loud to her! Even animal spirits like to know that they have successfully connected!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: I am frequently asked about pets who have died or are put down. Our pets are important parts of our families, oftentimes bearing witness to our struggles, our pain, and our success, so it is natural to ask this question.

Sheba's love and loyalty to Barbara was so great, it overwhelmed everything else, including Sheba's soul contract to cross over, a common occurrence with our pets. By definition, they are loyal to us and sensitive to our pain, our needs. It is difficult for our pets to relinquish that role. Assisting our pets with crossing into Spirit is humane, it is not an action that would invoke the pet's anger.

How do pets come to us? You may find that you feel him or her jump on the bed just as you start to drift off to sleep. You may hear light footsteps running up and down the stairs. You may swear that your dog or cat shot past the bathroom door as you prepare for the night. If you have other animals in the house, it is common for them to respond to the Spirit of a departed pet by staring into space or happily reacting to something, while you don't see a thing.

Pets are an important part of our lives and our families. They remain vibrant in Spirit, and they happily wait for us. I have often heard from loved ones who have crossed that their pet greeted them at the door to Spirit the same way their pet greeted them at the door in this physical world. And that seems like a very nice way to start things off, indeed!

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

Our Soul Contract Expired, But I'm Still Paying On The Loan

Nan O’Brien

on September 23, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

My husband and I have been married for fifteen years and we have three children. He has always had a temper and yelled a lot, and it is getting much worse. Actually, we never really were right for one another, but I focused on raising my children. I have stayed with him for the last five years pretty much only because of the children, but now I'm not sure if this is right anymore. If I leave him, will my children be ok?

In desperation,

Lori

Dear Lori,

It seems you have already made the decision that it is right for you to leave your husband, but the conflict rests with whether what is right for you is also right for your children. The short answer is yes. They not only will be fine, they knew coming into this physical existence that they would see their parents divorce in their lifetime. Please allow me to explain:

The longer answer is connected to the soul contract between you and your husband, and the key is your feeling you were never right for one another. Oftentimes, a couple feels almost compelled to marry and have children, even when one - or both - know it isn't really right. This indicates a soul contract between the husband, wife, and the children. Children choose their parents. If the children have a contract to resolve with the parents, the parents may elect to marry and allow those children to come in. On a soul level, once the children are born - i.e., once the soul contract is over between the husband and wife - the spouses realize they no longer want to be married, which is actually because the purpose of the soul contract is over.

On a physical world level, it is important to remember that if you are miserable because you are staying in a marriage only for the children, they will know it, and you then make them responsible for your unhappiness. This is not fair to the children. You must also realize that children will imitate what they see as a means of learning. By staying in this marriage, you are teaching them, by example, that your marriage is what marriage is supposed to be. Would you like your children to have what you have had?

Please do not misunderstand, I think that many couples can work out their problems through commitment and counseling. But for those couples who honestly know and believe that the relationship between husband and wife cannot be saved, it is not damaging to the children to be raised in two loving homes instead of one unhappy home.

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: One of the hardest decisions an adult can make is whether to stay or go in a marriage, even without children. I understand how having children can make it that much more difficult. You do not want to break up the family unit. You do not want to subject the children to having two different residences. You wonder if you will ever meet anyone new who will love not only you, but also your children as you do. You wonder if it isn't better to stay in a bad marriage vs. not being married at all. These doubts or concerns keep many husbands and wives in marriages long past the true "expiration date" of the soul contract to be together.

Spiritually, it is either right for both spouses to be together or right for both spouses to be apart, but it cannot be right for one and wrong for another (even if during a break-up the soul who is left doesn't understand at first). You cannot have a soul contract that is unequal, the purpose behind the relationship will always facilitate the growth of both - even if the growth is learning what you don't want! Learning what not to have in a relationship can be very valuable. It often leads to a healthier relationship with the soul who comes next, a soul you may have missed but for the opportunity and growth that breaking up with the first soul brought.

As with many facets of our lives, choosing to live in faith that all things have purpose, all things are for a reason, can help us see with clarity. It can also help us understand that the purpose behind a marriage - and the recognition when the purpose is done - is often the children who are born to the marriage.

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

I Always Took Care Of Everyone Else; Is Now The Time For The Maine Event?

Nan O’Brien

on September 21, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dear Nan,

I know that I am in a transitional period in my life. In the past I took care of my mother, who passed on, and my life is now starting over. My fears of life and change are dissipating and I am getting excited for what lies ahead of me. For a person who thought 'change was good for others, just not me', I am now craving it. I want to grow and become the person I'm supposed to be. I want to move to Maine (something the old me would never have done). I want to be in a new state that I love, close to the ocean that has always been therapeutic for me, and start the life I've dreamed of.

Do you see this as a good move and what do you see me doing for work there? Thanks so much for your time and guidance and keep up the great work!

Jen

Dear Jen,

What energetically jumps off the page when I read your email is that you have done a lot of soul work, so first allow me to congratulate you on your courage and your efforts! Facing your fears and acknowledging your challenges is the first step in moving past any limitations that those fears and challenges bring into your life. You go, girl!

I totally support your decision to move to Maine. You have spent the last years putting many others first, not only your mother. You have balance in your life lesson plan and in the past you have been so comfortable giving to others, you never made room in your life to give to self. Maine will afford you that opportunity! You also have a gift with working outdoors, a talent born of truly caring about your environment. In Maine, your work will be more consistent with this interest.

Good luck, not only with your move, but with the NEW YOU! You've earned it!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: When we have experienced challenges and difficulties in our lives, it is easy to believe that things will never change; that just because your life experiences have been the same up to this point, that they are somehow etched in stone from here forward. Not true! In a very real way, whatever has happened up until now does not matter because it's done. It's over. Period.

Depressing thought? Not at all, because while you cannot change how you've been or reacted to life before, there is nothing that says it must continue to be the same and that you must continue to react the same way! Life can be different each and everyday, depending on how you understand your experiences, and whether or not you choose to learn from them or be defeated by them.

Jen is an inspiration and a case in point. She rose to the responsibilities in her life, taking on even those that were not hers, but now she is ready to do things differently. She is ready to live her life for herself, and is pro-actively seeking to do something that has been in her heart for years, even if her head was in a different place, creating a stumbling block. Jen is not allowing her prior actions to steal any of the joy she is now experiencing as she moves forward and embraces change.

For those of you who are stuck and still are fearful about taking on change as Jen is doing, please understand that you will find greater understanding and success if you let your heart rule for a while. I know that that's scary, but think about it (since you like to think!): Your life has been guided by your head so far...so....how's it been working for you? ;)

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/19/09

Nan O’Brien

on September 20, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on the links below to listen to Nan's online podcast stream.

1st Hour 9pm - 10pm EDT 2nd Hour 10pm - 11pm EDT 3rd Hour 11pm - 12am EDT

Looking at Life: The Flagstone Steps

Nan O’Brien

on September 19, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There are days you feel excited and full of life, revved up and ready to go, where you wake up and immediately say, "good morning, god!" and then there are days where your get up and go has clearly gotten up and gone; when you wake up and immediately say instead, "good god, morning!"

I was thinking earlier today, lost in the abstract idea that - on the whole - we are so incredibly resilient, and yet we rarely give ourselves enough credit for being that. We easily beat ourselves up over our mistakes, even inviting others to the self-bashing party by pointing out the mistakes others may have missed. But at some point, we abandon the idea and resign ourselves to our circumstance. At the least, we co-exist with the pain; at best, we embrace the lesson of the circumstance and use that lesson to avoid painful situations in the future. We do go on.

So, faced with the thought of unending and unyielding pain, being overwhelmed, how do we continue to go on? How do we do it? By focusing on the journey and not the destination; by being present in our circumstance and neither clinging to what's behind us, nor avoiding what's in front of us or being fearful of where the destination ultimately is.

Think of it this way: Life is not supposed to be a sidewalk, a succession of squares of cement that are identical, spreading in front of us endlessly toward some unseen end point, though we often choose to walk that path. Our life path is actually designed to be more like a series of flagstone steps, each unique, each step leading us to the next one, in a pattern of our making. We must pay attention to where we place each foot on the path, moving forward one step at a time in order to continue our journey. Sometimes we may have to pause and contemplate where the next flagstone is. Or, if a stone is missing, we may even have to leap forward to the next slate.

So, if you find yourself overwhelmed with where you are tonight or what's coming up next, instead of choosing the "sidewalk" comprised of endless, formless, blocks, head for the path in front of you that is laid out in a series of winding curves amidst the beauty of your own backyard - the uniqueness, the symmetry, the simplicity, the beauty, of the flagstone steps of your life.

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com

My Son Took His Life And I Stopped Living, Too

Nan O’Brien

on September 18, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

My 35-year old son Sean took his own life on December 15, 2007. He lived with my husband and me after his wife left him and he never really got over it. I was raised to believe suicide was a mortal sin and that he can't go to heaven. I cry everyday worrying about where he is and if he's ok.

Please help,

Jane

Dear Jane,

First and foremost, I am sorry for your loss. Death of a child is devastating enough without the added painful dimension of a suicide. It is not the natural way of life to survive our children, and my heart is with you.

Without wanting to contradict your religious upbringing, which I honor and respect, I can share with you that my experience (having counseled thousands of clients worldwide) is that the mechanism of the death does not change the result - we either live in the physical world or we live in the spiritual world, one or the other. Therefore, you can rest assured that your son's soul is in Spirit and that he is, indeed, ok.

It is important that you know Sean did not want to end his life so much as he wanted to end his pain. He did not see any possibility of his life improving, and the prospect that that was all his life would ever be was so overwhelming, he could not bear it. Sean felt like he was a failure and a burden to you and your husband, even though he assures me that you never said or did anything to make him believe that. I can also tell you that in the instant just prior to taking his life, which he has shared with me was somewhat violent, he experienced regret, but at that point it was too late to change the actions that led to his death.

Painful though it is to say, you cannot change what happened. What you can change is your understanding of your son's death. While the loss will never go away, your ability to co-exist with the pain can get stronger, so that his death does not likewise end yours. Start with the understanding that Sean has learned as a soul that this was not the best choice for him or for his family. Trust that the soul contract you and your son did not complete will lead to another opportunity, God's way of mitigating the damage to your souls. Seek the signs he gives to you that he's close by, including your finding pennies in unlikely places! And rest assured that Sean is at peace. He has told you this many times in your dreams, which were actually visits from your son.

Lastly, do give yourself permission to grieve, but likewise give yourself permission to be happy and joyful in your life, if only for moments. Gradually, those moments will last longer, and you will come to know the peace that can only come from acceptance.

My prayers are with you and your family.

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: Passing into Spirit results from one of two scenarios: Soul contract or free will/free choice. Dying as a result of a soul contract includes situations such as age, illness, and sometimes accident, while free will/free choice leads to deaths in homicides, suicides, and accidents as well. Keep in mind that you will not attract harm into your energy as a mechanism to fulfill a soul contract, harm will always be the result of someone's free will and free choice.

Suicide is an instrument of the soul's free will/free choice to choose to end his or her life. It can be an outcome of mental disease. In many cases such as Sean's, the choice to stop existing in this world is more about not wanting to be in pain vs. not wanting to live. A soul who passes into Spirit often has this realization just prior to completing the act leading to his/her death, and that is the beginning point of reviewing and understanding what went wrong, what led to the decision. Taking ownership and responsibility for the choice can lead to tremendous growth of the soul, to insure he/she never makes the choice again.

For those left behind, being touched by a suicide can also lead to understanding and growth, which is the best that can come from such a devastating situation. But if the loved ones left behind are so overwhelmed by the loss that they cease to live and merely exist, then the suicide claims the lives of more than its victim. Feeding into the darkness and the pain compounds the tragedy, and this is never what the dying soul wants.

If your life has been touched by a suicide, know that your loved one is safe; wants to take ownership of his/her choice; and wants to be remembered for the living part of his or her life, not the mechanism of the death. Give yourself permission to allow joy and love to be a living part of your life.

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

I Feel Like I'm Shadow Boxing And My Opponent Is Beating Me Up

Nan O’Brien

on September 16, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

I've had a really rough couple of years and sometimes I wonder if things will ever change. No matter how hard I try, or how good things look like they're going to be, it seems like nothing works out in the end as good as I thought, I have really bad luck most of the time. Will life ever get better?

Sincerely,

Ted

Dear Ted,

I understand totally the feeling that every time you come up for air, it's as if an unseen hand dunks you back under and you find yourself struggling, yet again, just to maintain your place. The good news is, you do not have a little black cloud over your head or a shadow coming up behind you, even if it feels that way! You also are not an unlucky person. There is less in the way of your happiness than you think.

The key to turning things around is to first look at what isn't working. Regardless of the circumstances, there will be a pattern to the events. My sense is that you gravitate toward the challenge, a result of the life lesson of "growth through adversity and challenge" that is in your energy. You attach significance to a situation in direct relation to how hard it is. For you, the harder the task, the greater the satisfaction. Conversely, if something comes too easily, you do not attach much value to it; you are suspicious simply because it was too easy! Your first thought is, "That was too easy - what's the catch?"

Reject the tendency when confronted with a hard choice and an easier one to always take the harder path. And remember that choosing happiness is an important mechanism in refusing to embrace the undefined uneasiness you are experiencing!Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: No one is truly "unlucky" in our world. Unfortunate events will be tied to either our life lessons or the free will/free choice of another (which we will discuss in upcoming blogs). The majority of the time, the reason for the difficulties will be related to the life lesson(s) we chose for ourselves coming into this world.

In Ted's case, as a soul he chose to learn by attracting tough situations into his life in order to sharpen, to hone, his ability to handle situations, with the intention to learn and grow from the experiences. Think of it this way: In the kitchen, if you want to sharpen a dull knife, you do not reach for a soft tomato. You reach for a stone, a strap, something hard to go against in order to sharpen the knife, right? And THEN you can use it on the soft tomato!

As souls, the lesson of growth through adversity and challenge is the same dynamic: Though the circumstances we go through can be hard, once we are "sharp," we can enjoy the growth from the circumstance, instead of being defeated by it. Unfortunately, if the majority of our life circumstances are difficult, challenging, we learn to identify our life by our adversities and our perception that we are unlucky, that life is hard. It takes a conscious effort to reprogram those thoughts.

Believe it or not, thinking about what makes you happy - and embracing the belief you can be happy - is an important part of the process of actually being happy and turning your life around.

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively yours,

Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

My Relationship Headed South - Should I?

Nan O’Brien

on September 14, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

I am writing you because I feel like I am at a crossroads in my life. I have divorced my ex-husband because he was not a very good person. I am thinking of moving to South Carolina with my 13-year old daughter to start over and I would like to know if that is the right thing to do. Also, I'm wondering about whether I will ever have a good relationship, or if I'm just one of those unlucky people who will never find someone.

Please help me!

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

You have "completion" in your energy as a life lesson, so I am sure making the decision to leave your husband was not an easy one! Your energy of completion tends to keep you from embracing change. I first want to assure you that you made the right choice to leave, as the fear of being alone does seem to be causing a bit of "what if" in you.

The move feels very positive to me, though I would also like you to explore North Carolina vs. South Carolina, particularly in the Asheville area, which resonates with your spirit.

As for being "unlucky" in love - not at all! You are merely in the process of learning how to be in a relationship with self, which is very different than being alone. Once you learn how to give to self without guilt, a new relationship will begin that is based on want and not need. The speed with which that happens is all up to you - how quickly are you willing to embrace the relationship with you? That will control the outcome, not luck!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: After our relationships come to an end, it is natural to want to move forward at some point into a new relationship, but many of us feel thwarted to do so. After my second divorce, I was essentially alone for ten years, and I confused the notion that being alone was the same as being in a relationship with me. I made up every excuse in the world not to do for me - my four kids had to come first, I didn't have the time, I didn't have the money. But the truth is, I simply didn't know how to meet my own needs, even though I was terrific at taking care of everyone else! Sound familiar?

Attracting situations into your energy dealing with self-nurturing arises most often when "balance" is a part of your spiritual lesson plan. I also see balance lessons in people who want to be in a relationship and/or want to be in a healthier relationship. We tend to think that it is better to be with someone, anyone, than to be alone. We also tend to think that it is better to be low maintenance and to expect less, not wanting to be demanding.

But the reality is that if you don't know how to meet your own needs, how can you expect someone else to? And if you don't think you are good enough to devote time, energy, and resources to, why should anyone else? Think about it - the way in which you allocate your time and energy in your life right now...how's it been working for you so far?

If your life seems constantly overwhelming and out of control, if a healthy relationship seems to elude you, then the first step forward is a big step backward! Step back from trying to do too much. Step back from trying to be all things to all people. Step back from trying to "save" the people around you. You cannot take ownership or responsibility for others' life lessons. You must choose YOU. You must be in a healthy relationship with self before you can be in a healthy relationship with anyone else. Again, there is a BIG difference between being alone and being in a relationship with you!

In truly embracing the spiritual concept that self-nurturing is not selfish, you will have learned the lesson of balance that is critical to living a healthier, happier life.

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/12/09

Nan O’Brien

on September 13, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on the links below to listen to Nan's online podcast stream.

1st Hour 9pm - 10pm EDT 2nd Hour 10pm - 11pm EDT 3rd Hour 11pm - 12am EDT

Looking at Life: Nine-Eleven

Nan O’Brien

on September 11, 2009 7:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click link to download a mp3 file Click link to listen to audio feed

nine-eleven.mp3 Nine-Eleven Audio Stream

The train station in Chappaqua New York is a 45-minute train ride out of New York's Grand Central Station. The town is home to many professionals who commute into the City. It's a quaint town, typical of the many bedroom communities that grew outside of the hustle of Manhattan and the Post-War generation; a town of families celebrating the Fourth of July with a bicycle parade down Main Street, or enjoying the delight of a homemade pizza at the corner Italian restaurant.

Twenty-year old Anthony worked at the train station's car service company, ferrying commuters to and from their homes. The pay was decent and the tips were good, enough to help pay his way at the local community college. He especially enjoyed getting to know the clients, who likewise enjoyed his eager attitude and keen interest in the professional world.

The morning of September 11th was a beautiful day, the hint of fall adding to the sunshine and blue skies, but the mood - along with the skies - quickly became dark, as word of the terrorist attacks began pouring in. Sirens pierced the air, calling in all of the volunteer firefighters. Police cars under full lights screamed toward the City, people huddled around every available television and radio for information about what was happening. Phone lines were down and the trains had stopped running, and as the day wore on, the news only got worse, as the reality of the brutality of what happened started to sink in. Late in the afternoon, the trains began running again from the City to the suburbs, and wave after wave of people covered in white soot emerged onto the train platform, plodding toward the car service office, wanting to go home.

The air was eerily silent as if God himself were in shock. Anthony and the other drivers hurriedly took as many people home as they could, dreamlike, silently navigating the familiar roads, and by late evening Anthony realized he had not seen many of his regulars: Men and women who had shared with him, encouraged him, taken the time to get to know him.

Days turned into weeks. The sight of government cars in the train station's parking lot - with workers taking down license plate numbers of unclaimed vehicles - lessened, as the list of the victims' names grew. Witness to the devastating impact of the terror firsthand, Anthony asked, "Where was God on September 11th? And how could he let this happen? Why didn't he stop it? And if good truly does triumph over evil, how could such evil seem to win?"

The answer lay not in the act, but in the response. God was with those who bravely faced the end of their physical life, by removing them before they felt the flame, the crush, the pavement. He was found in the volunteers who gave their time and their heart, their sweat, to help, with no thought of personal risk or gain. He was at the core of the patriotism that bound everyone together through the sense of brotherhood, instead of allowing the evil to tear the fabric of this nation apart.

Sometimes in life, the best that can come from a devastating situation is found in the response. We discover how strong we are, how brave we are, how much we care, how much we love. We see very clearly what's important and - more to the point - what is not. We learn very quickly that no matter what, we are given what we need when we need it through the love that connects each of us to one another; a love and spirit that is so vast, nothing - and no one - can break it. It is the God Light within all of us.

And that, Anthony discovered, is where God was on September 11, 2001.

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

Did My Dead Husband Leave Me All Over Again?

Nan O’Brien

on September 11, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Dear Nan,

My husband Marc passed away in June 2007. At times I sense he is with me and I get a feeling that I've been with him during my dreams. Lately it seems as if he has stepped back a bit. I wonder if he has any special messages for me at this time. Thanks so much Nan!

Sincerely,

Jill

Dear Jill,

First, I'm sorry for your loss. I can feel that you are a young widow which carries unique implications for the future in terms of family and future relationships. I'm sure it has been a very difficult time for you juggling widowhood and motherhood to your young children.

As to messages: It is particularly important to Marc that you know he is now once again vibrant, as his passing occurred when his body could no longer support the amazing spirit he was. He also is now able to do his "racing," the significance of which he assures me you will understand. And, he "appreciates the heroic efforts" you have made toward his family, even if your overtures have not been received as warmly as they deserve. Do not feel you need to continue to be quite so...heroic. (smile)

Marc's activity in your dream state is even more than you realize, as you sleep with such exhaustion that I do not feel you recall your dreams regularly. In time, this will be a common mechanism to feel connected to him, which will be a tremendous source of comfort.

That said, the reason in your wake state that you do not sense him as much lately is the natural process of a loved one in spirit. It is not that he is not there; it is that your ability to perceive him so easily was enough to sustain you. This ultimately was interfering with your need to move on, and that is why he has seemed to "step back" a bit - but, rest assured, it is not that he is not there! Marc is still very much with you: "Promise made, promise kept."

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: When a loved one dies through a soul contract, such as Jill's husband Marc, part of the contract is that if one has to go, the others have to grow. It goes without saying that when you experience a loss, you would rather have less growth and more of your loved one. But the reality is that the loss will be a result of an agreement by the soul on a soul level - not a conscious or sub-conscious level - to confront the loss at a given point in time, all for the purpose of a soul's growth.

Please note that I am not speaking about death as a result of the imposition of free will/free choice by another soul, such as a criminal act or an accident - I'll save that discussion for another day! - I am speaking of a death through (more or less) "natural" means, such as disease or old age.

The sense of loss and abandonment that comes from death, particularly to someone of a young age, can be devastating to those left behind. In the beginning, it is typical for the survivors to feel their loved one in spirit around them. The connections can be very strong and are necessary for the spouse or partner to get through the day-to-day adjustment to living alone. It would be cruel for our loved ones not to stand beside us during the initial phases of grief, but there comes a point in time where their daily presence interferes with the survivors' growth. It is at this time the loved one will step back, as Marc has done with Jill.

Do not mistake this stepping back as a negative or being abandoned all over again. Recognize that the soul will not step back unless he/she feels you are ready to embrace life again in the physical world - a kind of left-handed compliment. It signals the next step of the grief process from an energetic standpoint and can be a time of tremendous growth, which is ultimately a part of the contract between you and your loved one who has passed.

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about my work or my nationally-syndicated radio show, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

Someone To Watch Over Me?

Nan O’Brien

on September 9, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dear Nan,

A couple of nights ago I woke up to the feeling that I was being watched. Scared me to death at first. But then I calmed down when I realized it didn't feel bad. Any ideas on who it was or why they were there?

Thanks,

Penny

Dear Penny,

I can understand how disturbing it must have been to experience waking up with the feeling of being watched! That said, I am glad that you were not worried, as my sense of your experience is that it was, indeed, a spiritual visit.

You have a main life lesson that includes loss and boundaries. I know that you have had many people in your life pass away. You also are quite intuitive, which makes you more sensitive to those in Spirit who are reaching out to you. This particular night, it was an older female woman who was like a mother to you, but not your actual mother. I can feel she passed from heart issues.

The reason she was in your energy is due to the medical issues you are facing currently. There are "medical hoops" around you and I can sense her concern that you are overloaded. This relates back to your main life lesson, as you simply do not know how to say "no" to people, Penny (a boundaries lesson), and as a result, your plate is too full and your health is being adversely affected. In this, you and your loved one are much alike, and there is a strong message for you to be mindful of her health challenges, and to see them as a warning shot across your own bow.

Lastly, I'm hearing to tell you not to put off the medical testing any longer. What will be found can be dealt with, but ignoring it will make the response and/or recovery that much more difficult. Trust yourself, Penny - you know you need to take better care of yourself!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: Have you ever woken up and felt the presence of someone or something like Penny? This phenomenon is actually quite common, and let me explain why:

When you are in an altered state of consciousness, such as the dream state, you are more open to feeling loved ones in Spirit. I kiddingly explain that the dream state is like a "Spiritual Switzerland" - it is the neutral territory between the physical state and the spiritual state, where the two worlds come together. That is why we are able to experience "visits" while dreaming, although not every dream is a visit. (I'll talk about that distinction in a minute).

When in the wake state, our practical natures often serve as a wall that shuts out our intuition. When we are about to fall asleep or when we first wake up, the conscious thoughts that typically drive us and make us aware of our surroundings are not in charge. We do not think as much as we feel; logic is not at the helm, and everything is possible. With our guard let down, we are free to experience sensations and impressions of those in Spirit, such as Penny did.

In the full-blown dream state, we can do more than have sensations and impressions of those in Spirit, we can actually interact! The hallmark of a "visit" is that you are in the midst of a normal, everyday event: You are pouring a cup of coffee in your kitchen. Everything seems very real when, out of the blue, your loved one who has died walks in the room and pours a cup, too. It all seems very, very normal. You talk, you laugh, you may even hug, and suddenly you realize (a) your loved one looks younger and healthier than when he/she passed; and (b) it is impossible for the person to be next to you because - he/she is dead!

At that point, more often than not, you wake up (which is kind of lousy, because that is the exact moment you have a lot of questions to ask!). You may feel very content, or have a strong sense of that person in your room. You may even smell a scent that is identified with your loved one - a perfume, a pipe, or flowers. You know your loved one is ok, and you are at peace. Amazing!

Be aware, however, that not every dream is a visit! So, if you see your loved one flying through the air or riding on the back of a pink elephant...well, you probably can blame the spicy food you ate before you went to bed! ;)

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about my work or my nationally-syndicated radio show, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

My Body's In Charge And I Don't Like The New Boss

Nan O’Brien

on September 7, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

I've been having arthritis pain for a long while and was wondering if you could tell me why this came up unannounced and if it will ever go away ???

Thanks for your time,

Christine

Dear Christine,

First, let me be very clear. I believe in traditional medicine and the wonderful benefits that the science of medicine can provide. That said, I also know that the mind-body-spirit connection is an important part of our physical health, too. In addition to addressing the physical components with your doctors, it is important for you to also look at the energetic connection. That's where I come in!

Arthritis pain can be excruciating and by virtue of the pain, it demands that you pay attention to you. In your case, this is connected to your life lesson plan of balance. You take care of everyone else; you focus on everyone else; yet you feel guilty when you take care of you. You also hold onto the pain of those around you, which energetically has to go somewhere! Is it any wonder, then, that you are hurting?

A key to helping reduce the pain is to look at what was going on in your life at the point in time the pain surfaced. You also need to find outlets to let go of the pain, the disappointments in your life, which will have a positive effect on your symptoms.

Remembering that you must make your own health a priority energetically will help support the medical treatments, which is a positive way to address the balance lesson in your life.

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: Using only medical tools or only alternative tools for physical issues is not as effective as combining both. "Integrative medicine" is an approach that combines the best of both worlds. A key part of an integrative approach is to listen to your own intuition about your body and to be pro-active in your treatment with your medical provider.

Oftentimes, a balance lesson is a part of medical challenges. While it is a difficult way to receive the lesson, the truth is that we do pay attention to ourselves when we are sick or hurting. We do allow others to give to us, do for us, when we physically cannot do for ourselves, if for no other reason than necessity.

Different parts of the body yield clues about situations in our life demanding our attention that we are not addressing. For Christine, holding onto her own emotional pain and taking on the pain of others contributes to her arthritis pain. By treating the physical symptoms through medical means, and simultaneously addressing the underlying energetic need to give to ourselves without guilt, we take a huge step toward achieving - and maintaining! - physical health and learning the lesson of balance.

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about my work or my nationally-syndicated radio show, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/05/09

Nan O’Brien

on September 6, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on the links below to listen to Nan's online podcast stream.

1st Hour 9pm - 10pm EDT 2nd Hour 10pm - 11pm EDT 3rd Hour 11pm - 12am EDT

Looking at Life: The Pleated Plaid Skirt

Nan O’Brien

on September 5, 2009 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Pleated Plaid Skirt.jpg

The alarm went off as it does each day, bright and sunny, while my brain mentally screamed in denial. I am not, nor have I ever been, a morning person. I am the person who stumbles to the coffee maker and cannot speak or function until after I drink at least one cup of the Nectar of the Gods, (highly-caffeinated German coffee) in my favorite coffee mug that is, in actuality, a bowl with a handle on the side.

Rounding the doorway into the kitchen, I was surprised to see my youngest daughter, Elizabeth, then five years old, already sitting at the table. Her legs dangled off the ladder back chair as she proudly munched on a Pop Tart she had retrieved from a low shelf in the pantry all by herself. A grape juice box with a straw punched through the top sat precariously near the edge of her placemat.

When she looked up and saw me, she proudly smiled and in her very most authoritative voice said, "You know, Mommy, I think we should have a fifteen-minute rule. That's where no one can talk to you when you get up until after fifteen minutes." I could only marvel and nod my assent to her five-year old wisdom.

Finishing her makeshift breakfast and wiping the crumbs from her face with a carefully-placed napkin, Elizabeth bounded from her chair and raced to her bedroom.

"Time to get dressed for my first day of school!" she proclaimed over her shoulder.

"Do you want me to help you?" I asked, automatically heading toward the direction of her voice to assist her morning routine.

"No, it's ok. I'm in kindergarten now. I can do it myself," she called back.

"I-can-do-it-myself." In those five words I instantly understood that the process of her growing up, her independence, had truly begun. I felt time slip away just a little bit faster than it had before, the same feeling I had had when her older brothers had proudly marched on their way several years earlier. Before I could indulge the feeling, I heard Elizabeth calling from her room.

"Does the zipper go in front or the back?" she said.

"The side," I replied, "on the left - the hand you don't write with."

"Ok! Thank you, Mommy!" she responded.

I sat down on the sofa in the den, waiting, and resisting the temptation to stand by her door to be only a few steps away from any help she might let me give her, when suddenly she came running into the room. She raced in front of me, threw her arms in the air, and said, "TA-DA!" as she whirled in an excited circle.

"Look, Mommy! When I twirl around, my skirt flies up in the air and it's so pretty! I love my new, red, pleated-plaid-skirt!" she said, carefully enunciating the words, her smile reaching from ear-to-ear.

"Let's get your hair combed so we can walk down to the bus stop," I said, smiling.

My practiced hands quickly braided her long, dark hair, and I fastened red ribbons in a bow on the rubber bands at the bottom of each braid. She grabbed her new book bag and pink Barbie lunch box, and hand-in-hand we walked down the driveway to wait for the big yellow bus to come around the corner.

"There it is!" she said excitedly, jumping up and down! "The school bus is coming! The school bus is coming!"

As the long, lumbering bus came to a halt and she climbed its steps, my heart was in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. I willed them not to spill over until the bus had pulled away, as I searched for her silhouette walking down the aisle. She found a seat next to a window and pressed her lips against the glass in a big kiss, and I blew her a kiss back as the bus pulled away.

Fifteen years later, Elizabeth emailed me a picture of herself from Munich, from her first day of classes. And I couldn't help but notice that she was wearing a new, red, pleated plaid skirt, her smile still as big and beautiful as the day she started kindergarten. She may have grown and gone proudly out on her own; but in the way that mattered, she was still my little girl. Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com

My Son Got A Job As A Track Coach And I Fear He Is Running In Circles

Nan O’Brien

on September 4, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dear Nan,

With life's challenges, our son will be graduating from college soon and life is so uncertain as is not to mention the way the economy is nor the look of all graduates futures. He is such a bright and loving son with ambitions sometimes too big to start out with. Do you feel or see anything special that will come about after graduation? He is doing everything he is required to do to start looking for work and got lucky and was hired over the fall from his high school to be track coach. One special moment in this bleak world.

Darby

Dear Darby,

Having your child finish college and enter the "real world" can be exciting and overwhelming, as well as scary and overwhelming! Sometimes, it is hard to discern the difference, especially when you're the parent. ;)

Your son presents energetically as a responsible young man who is defined by his work and his home. He likes security; he likes to know what his options are - all of his options, not just the most obvious ones. He will seek out those opportunities that resonate with truth and integrity, this is not a young man who would tolerate work politics for long! He has no agenda, other than to do what's right. In some ways, he is innocent in the way he approaches things as he has a strong work ethic; abhors laziness; is offended by those who lie and the lies they tell; and can't stand arrogance.

The opportunity for him to be a track coach seems to be, at first blush, a departure from what he has studied. Yet, it is this door opening amid other doors closing that is leading him toward his ultimate life goal. He is a natural born teacher, which comes from his wonderful communication skills. He knows how to effectively facilitate the exchange of information in a way that it can be heard. Ultimately, I feel he will be comfortable in the world of academia, but at the college level. What will have begun as a second choice now will soon become a passion. He also has sports medicine in his energy, so a return to school down the road to add to his knowledge (and his marketability) will make sense.

Not to worry! The bigger question is, are you prepared to let him go? If you trust the way you have raised your son (and from where I sit, there's no reason not to), you have nothing to fear.

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: It is a basic fundamental spiritual principle that you cannot take ownership

and responsibility for someone else's life lessons, actions, and/or inactions. The temptation is strong when we love someone, especially a child, but spiritually it is truly a soul's invocation to "please quit living my life, and let me create my own success or let me make my own mistakes. Amen."

It's also true that those looking ahead generally perceive things brighter than those who look behind. Looking ahead holds promise, the expectation that things can be better because you haven't arrived there yet. The opportunity lies within the unknown, which somehow bestows unlimited (and untested) possibilities. Looking backward seems darker because the perspective is colored by pain, hurts, betrayals, and all other manner of negative emotions that may become attached by virtue of the experience.

Embracing an optimistic outlook vs. a pessimistic viewpoint (did you notice the difference in the words?) will affect the vision of what you see in any given situation. From Darby's point of view above, the lucky-though-last-resort option of being a high school track coach was a benevolent gift of compromise, but it is a holding pattern for the hope of something better. From her son's point of view, it is a wonderful opportunity to make a contribution that matters and to enjoy the sports aspect of it on a personal level. On top of all that, he even gets paid to do so! Energetically, it will lead him on his life path because he did not find another job, not in spite of it. What could be better? And what more would you wish for your child than to have him or her see those possibilities?

Life is not designed to be as hard as we make it. The lesson is not to attach significance to something in relation to how hard it is to attain or to what we think we couldn't obtain. The open door - the most obvious door - is truly the best route to happiness!

Until tomorrow, I am

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about me and my work, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

Nan O’Brien

on September 2, 2009 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Nan,

My question is about my weight. After giving birth to my daughter, I am now close to a hundred pounds overweight. I can't seem to figure out what it is that is blocking me from really trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Please help,

Deb

Dear Deb,

There are many people who struggle with weight problems, so I'm glad that you wrote! On a conscious level, weight would seem to be merely a physical issue. But like all physical issues, there is always a connection to our energetic side, so let's look at your energy to find the contributing cause:

In childhood, I can sense the loss and emotional hurt you endured. It can be challenging to lose people from death and divorce at a young age. The sense of abandonment creates fear and anxiety, and from that your soul goes into survival mode. You feel the need to protect yourself. The result? A mismatch of communication between the soul and the body. Your soul says "Be careful! Guard against the hurts of the outside world!" Your body says, "No problem! I'll hold onto physical weight, which will create a safety barrier between the outside world and me." It is also significant that your weight issue arose after you gave birth to a child, considering your life lesson of loss is connected to your own childhood.

I have confidence if you are willing to approach this problem both physically and spiritually, you will be amazed at the results. Examine the loss you sustained in your younger years and face it head on. And don't worry about prior efforts, all that matters is what you do in the now!

Let me know of your progress!

Nan

√ ∙ Checkpoint: Did you ever stop to think about how often we talk about/hear about/read about losing weight? Diets that work; diets that don't. The need to live healthier; the need to accept ourselves as we are. The reasons we are overweight? We have to reprogram our metabolism; we have to diet; we have to forget diets; we have to only eat protein; we should never eat protein....and on and on and on. Celebrities proclaim their weight loss successes as long as they are winning the battle of the bulge, but once they are on the losing side, another smiling spokesperson is on camera.

Yet, did you ever see a commercial that talked about the connection between your weight and life lessons? The need to learn about balance (mind/body/spirit) or trust/abandonment issues and the body? Did you ever stop to consider the possibility you have weight issues because you starved in a previous lifetime and so the soul - again, in an attempt to protect you - is ensuring that that never happens again?

If you are struggling with weight issues like Deb, step back from the limited perspective that the only answer is a physical one. Yes, you do need to embrace healthy foods and moderate exercise, but making the connection between your life lessons and your physicality will give you the additional tools you need to take on the challenge of successfully living in balance and living in health.

Until tomorrow, I am,

Intuitively Yours,
Nan O'Brien

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer in my daily blog? I'd love to hear from you! Please email me at Nan@IntuitivelyYours.net.

For more information about my work or my nationally-syndicated radio show, please visit www.NanOBrien.com.

« August 2009 | Main Index | Archives | October 2009 »

September 2009 Archives

Do Not Pass Go; Do Not Collect $200 Dollars

I'm Struggling To Come To Terms With My Sister's Death - Is She?

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/26/09

Looking at Life: My Mother

Am I In The Doghouse For Putting Down My Pet?

Our Soul Contract Expired, But I'm Still Paying On The Loan

I Always Took Care Of Everyone Else; Is Now The Time For The Maine Event?

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/19/09

Looking at Life: The Flagstone Steps

My Son Took His Life And I Stopped Living, Too

I Feel Like I'm Shadow Boxing And My Opponent Is Beating Me Up

My Relationship Headed South - Should I?

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/12/09

Looking at Life: Nine-Eleven

Did My Dead Husband Leave Me All Over Again?

Someone To Watch Over Me?

My Body's In Charge And I Don't Like The New Boss

The Nan O'Brien Radio Show - 09/05/09

Looking at Life: The Pleated Plaid Skirt

My Son Got A Job As A Track Coach And I Fear He Is Running In Circles

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

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